The News

eSports are quickly rising to meteoric levels, and pretty soon parents may be hearing their kids dreaming of becoming "pro" in video games, and they'd have as legitimate of a dream as any other sport, at least from a monetary standpoint. SteelSeries-sponsored teams raked in over $2 million in prizes in 2011, and all I can think is, "I could buy quite a few SteelSeries Senseis for that!" Check the press release after the break! SteelSeries has their name stamped on alot of eSport successes, coincidence? The leading professional gaming peripheral company would probably argue that it's not, and I'm sure they're expecting an even better 2012!

SteelSeries’ Teams Began This Year in Tournaments with the Intel Extreme Masters, Taking Home First and Second Place in Counter-Strike

CHICAGO – Jan. 26, 2012 –SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of premium-quality, competitive gaming peripherals, tannounced that on the coattails of a successful 2011 eSports season, which ended with record breaking wins and more than $2 Million in overall team winnings, this weekend during the Intel Extreme Masters Global Challenge in Kiev, SteelSeries sponsored Counter-Strike teams battled for first place. Team Natus Vincere and SK Gaming, both sponsored by SteelSeries, competed in the finals where Natus Vincere eventually took home first place.

“The 2011 eSports season set new standards in competitive gaming with the level of players we saw competing on the mainstages during tournaments, the incredible numbers of spectators at events as well as those who watched live streamed matches, and the prize money,” said Kim Rom, SteelSeries CMO. “Our teams brought home more than $2 million dollars in winnings, a hockey stick growth curve that attests to the rapid growth we’re seeing at a global level. The excitement for eSports is mounting and that proof is in the checks that these players are competing for.”

Rom adds, “We’re looking forward to the increasing levels of viewership and adoption from both publishers and consumers, both of which I’m confident we will see this year. The teams that we sponsor are hands down the best in their respective games and we’re looking forward to celebrating their success.”

About SteelSeries

SteelSeries is a leading manufacturer of top quality gaming peripherals from headsets, keyboards, and mice to controllers, surfaces, and software. For more than a decade, SteelSeries has been on the forefront of designing and creating gear for competitive gamers. The company’s continued innovation also comes in collaboration with the world’s leading professional gaming teams and partners. SteelSeries is a global brand that continues to support the growth of competitive gaming tournaments and electronic sports leagues through professional team sponsorships, partnerships, and community support. For more information, please visit http://steelseries.com.